Fire-escape



(No Model.)

WITNESSES INV'ENTOR L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ROBERTS, OF MONTGOMERY CITY, MISSOURI.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent-No. 269,715, dated December26, 1882.

Application filcd April 4, 188:2. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES ROBERTS, ofMontgomery City, in the county of Montgonr cry and State of Missouri,have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved device forraising ladders and swinging them into position.

The invention consists in a standard, on which is mounted a platform andturn-table frame, to which ladders are attached, which platform carriesa Windlass for raising the ladders.

The invention also consists in parts of construction and combinations,aswill be fully described hereinafter. f

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a longitudinal elevation of my improved fire-escape. Fig. 2is a front elevation of the same.

A standard or upright, A, is rigidly and firmly mounted on a base-frame,B, which may be provided with wheels, if desired. The standard is bracedby a series of struts, O, on the upper ends of which a circular track,D, is secured. An annular plate or ring, E, rests loosely to turn on thetrack D, and to the ring E a turn-table platform, F, is secured. Theupper cross-piece, G, of a frame, H, resting on the platform F and ringE, is pivoted on the top of the standard A, thus permitting this frame Hto swing on the standard. One side of the frame H is a greater distancefrom the standard A than the other side, and to this shorter side of theframe H one or two ladders, J, are attached, which are counterbalancedby the opposite side of theframe. These ladders are slightly inclinedoutward from the frame from the lower toward the upper ends. Theadjoining bars of the ladders J are provided at the upper ends with twotransverse guide bars or frames, K, which hold a sliding ladder, L, tothe two adjoining bars of the ladders J. v v

A pulley, M, is pivoted to each of the adjoining bars of the ladders J,near the upper ends, over which pulleys, ropes, or chains N pass, whichare attached to the lower end of the sliding ladder'L. From the pulleysM the ropes or chains N pass over pulleys O on the upper beam, G, of theframe, and from the pulleys 0 they pass to a Windlass, P, on theplatform F, to which Windlass the ropes are attached. The frame H isproperly braced and stiffened by suitable braces or struts.

An additional sliding ladder can be held to the sliding ladder L, and tothis second sliding ladder a third can be held, and so on, all theseladders being provided with ropes and pulleys for raising them. Theladders can be raised by means of the Windlass, and can he held in araised position by the ropes.

The platform F and the frame H can be turned on the standard A, theladders being balanced by the overhanging part ofthe frame H. After theladders have been erected they can be swung into any desired position byturning the platform F and the frame H. Ladders of any desired heightcan thus be raised very rapidly, and can be moved about very easily, asmay be required.

Aforce-pump,1t, rests on the platform F, and from this pump the hose Sisconducted along the side bars of one of the ladders, J.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a fire-escape, thecombination, with the standard A, of the turn-table F, the frame H onthis turn-table, and the ladders J L, held to this frame, substantiallyas herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the standard A, of theturn-table F, the frame H, the ladder J, the sliding ladder L, the ropesN, and the Windlass P, substantially as herein shown and described, andfor the purpose set forth.

3. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the standard A, of theturn-table F, the frame H, the ladders Jand L, the-guide-loops K, thepulleys M and 0, the ropes N, and the windscribed, and for the purposeset forth.

4. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the standardA, of the rings Dand E, the platform F, the frame H, and the ladders J and and for thepurpose set forth.

CHARLES ROBERTS.

' Witnesses:

Asa P. MGUANNE, JNO. M. LEwIs.

as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentlass P, substantially asherein shown and de- IOO L, substantially as herein shown and described,

